In The News – Clean Up The Lake launches second 72-mile cleanup of Lake Tahoe
December 15, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 12/15/2025, Written by Petra Molina
On Thursday morning, divers stepped into drysuits, freedivers adjusted wetsuits, and kayakers and jet skiers moved into position along Tahoe City’s shoreline as Clean Up The Lake prepared for the first official dives of its newest project.
The Tahoe-based nonprofit, known for its environmental dive team and SCUBA cleanups, completed the lake’s first 72-mile cleanup at depths of 0 to 25 feet in 2021 and 2022. Now, the team is returning to circle the entire shoreline again, this time targeting deeper waters.
“Embarking on this so-called ‘second lap’ of Lake Tahoe used to be something we would joke about ever being needed — yet after almost four years and hundreds of research dives later at these deeper depths, we’ve realized this is exactly what Lake Tahoe is calling for us to do,” said CUTL Founder Colin West.
Photo: Petra Molina